Amusement device.



PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906. D. J. B. GAPFODIO.

A MUSEMENT DEVICE APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEBTL hww/wo ATTORNEYS PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906."

D. J; B. CAPFODIO. I AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JULY5 1906 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

A TTOHNE Y8 DOMINIOK J. B. CAFFODIO, OF N EW YORK, N. Y.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application filed July 5,1906. Serial No. 324,775.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DOMINIOK J. B. CAFFO- DIO, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Amusement Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to amusement devices, and especially to the general type of such devices which are popularly known as merry-go-rounds The object of the invention is to produce a device of this class which will give pleasureseekers a new and enjoyable sensation.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through a device constructed according to my invention, certain parts being removed; and Fig. 2 is a plan, certain parts being broken away and shown in cross-section.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents a base-plate or foundation which is adapted to be arranged upon the groundlevel 2, as shown. This base or foundation is of substantially circular form and is provided with .an upwardly-projecting hollow pillar or st 3, disposed centrally, as shown. \Vithin this post 3 1 provide a rotatable shaft 4, the upper extremity whereof carries rigidly the hub 5 of a wheel 6. The said wheel 6 is constructed out of rods or bar-iron, as shown, which is given rigidity by suitable braces 7. The lower extremity of the shaft 4 is suitably mounted in a step-bearing 8, adjacent to which the shaft carries rigidly a bevel gear-wheel 9. A driving-shaft 10 is rotatably supported in a horizontal position beneath the base 1, said shaft carrying a pinion 11, which meshes with the gear-wheel 9, so as to enable the shaft 4 to be continuously rotated. Upon the base 1 there is rotatably mounted a platform 12, which is of slightly conical form, as shown, the apex of the cone being disposed downwardly. In other words, the platform is formed with an opening concentric with which a gear-wheel 13 is secured on the platform, and this gear-wheel meshes with a pinion 14, carried upon a vertical spindle 15, held to rotate on the base 1. Arrangement is made for driving this spindle 15 from the shaft 10 by means of a bevel gearwheel 16.

In order to rotatably support the platform 12 in the upper side of the base 1, I provide a plurality of rollers 17, arranged as indicated, and upon the upper edges of these rollers wearing-strips 18 rest.

The arms of the wheel 6 are provided with straps or hangers 19, which support rings 20, adapted to be grasped by the hands of persons standing upon the platform, It is intended that the persons holding the rings 20 shall wear roller-skates and stand upon the platform.

Rigidly secured upon the platform 12 I provide a plurality of automobiles or motorcars 21, in which persons may seat themselves. These automobiles will of course be lightly constructed, so as to represent automobiles, but will simply be models without machinery of any kind. Near the outer edge of the platform 12 I provide a complete circle of bicycles 22, and these bicycles are connected together by links 23, the forward end of one bicycle being connected to the rear end of the one next in advance, and so on. In addition to the links 23, connecting the bicycles in succession, I provide flexible cords 24. The forward end of each of these cords is attached to the saddle of the forward bicycle and to the handle-bar 26 of the following bicycle. Each cord passes up and through a guide-pulley 27, which is attached to the rim of the wheel 6, as shown. The platform 12 is not a simple conical surface, but is formed with waves or convolutions 28 radiating from the center. When the device is in operation, the platform is driven in one direction, while the wheel 6 rotates in the opposite direction. Persons riding upon the bicycles will then advance with the wheel 6, and at the same time they will be given a rising-and-falling or galloping movement by the convolutions 28. The bicycles are pre vented from upsetting by the cords 24. In this connection special attention is called to the pulleys 27 through which the cords 24 are guided, facilitating the movement of the cords in either direction. In this way the cords adapt themselves to varying positions of the bicycles.

One extremity of each link 23 is formed with a notch 29, by means of which attachment is had to the adjacent bicycle. By dis- IIC connecting one of these links any one of the bicycles may beraised on its hind-wheel, as indicated in the outline at 30, so as to enable the person to pass through the circle of bicycles onto the interior of the platform. The persons sitting in the automobiles will move around with the plaform, but will not advance relatively to the platform. The skaters, which stand upon the platform within the circle of bicycles and automobiles, will of'course' advance with respect to theplatform, and at the same time they will rise and fall as they pass over the convolutions 28.

said persons may be attached, and means for rotating said platform.

2. A rotatable platform having convoluti'ons formed therein and adapted to-support persons, a Wheel above said platform to which'said persons may beattached, means for rotating said platform, and means for rotating said wheel. 7

3. In a deviceof the class-described, in combination, a rotatable platform, a-rotatable wheel supported thereab ove, means whereby persons may stand uponsaid platform and attach themselves to said wheel, and

means for rotating said wheel and 'said platform in opposite directions.

4. In an amusement device, in combination, a platform, a wheel mounted thereabove, a circle of bicycles resting on said platform, pulleys carried by said wheel, cords connecting said bicycles and passing through said pulleys, and means for rotating said platform or said wheel.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rotatable platform having a substantially conical form with convolutions radiating from thecenter, a wheel above said platform and having means whereby persons supported on said platform may attach themselves to said wheel, and means for rotating said wheel or said platform.

6. In an amusement device of the class de- .scribed, in combination, a rotatable platform of substantially conical form having convolutions formed therein, a central shaft passing up through said platform, a wheel carried by said shaft abovesaid platform,

means for driving said Wheel and said plat-' form in opposite directions, a circle of bicycles resting on said platform and connected with said wheel, a plurality of automobiles mounted on said platform and adapted to rotatetherewith, and hangers carried by said wheel and adapted to be seized by persons standing upon said platform and skating thereupon.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

DOMINIOK J; B. CAFFODIQ.

Witnesses: i I X F, D. AMMEN, C. O. NIELsoN. 

